Page 784 – Nejat Society

British Government answer to the ‘Lords of Terror’

“…Lord Malloch-Brown: My Lords, I certainly concede the point that the organization is led by a woman [Iran-Interlink editor – the PMOI is led by a man, Massoud Rajavi, who is the sole decision maker in the organisation, Maryam Rajavi is only his lieutenant.], but I will risk the wrath of a portion of this House when I say that despite that, and despite what it says about the rights of women, the PMOI was involved in numerous terrorist attacks for a very extended period. At the time of the second Gulf War, it was considered by coalition forces to be completely assimilated into the security apparatus of the Saddam Hussein regime. Indeed, we had to disarm the organization to the extent of 2,100 tanks, vehicles and artillery pieces. Since then it has made no renunciation of terrorism and disarmed only in the face of pressure from coalition forces; so, despite what it has to say on women’s rights, we are not convinced that in other regards this organization has permanently renounced terrorism….”

Lords Hansard, February 4, 2008 –

Iran: People’s Mujaheddin Organisation 2.51 pm

Lord Eden of Winton asked Her Majesty’s Government: Whether they will make representations to the European Union to deproscribe the People’s Mujaheddin Organisation of Iran. The Minister of State,Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Lord Malloch- Brown): My Lords, the House will be aware that the People’s Mujaheddin Organisation of Iran is currently on the domestic list of proscribed organisations. The House might also be aware that the Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission recently determined that it should be removed from this list. Proscription at the EU level is based in part on the UK’s domestic proscription. Her Majesty’s Government are appealing the decision of the Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission and the domestic proscription will remain in force until that appeals process is complete.

Lord Eden of Winton: My Lords, that Answer is disappointing, to put it mildly. Does the Minister accept that the findings of the Proscribed Organisations Appeal Commission were absolutely clear: that the PMOI is not concerned with terrorism? In those circumstances, why do the British Government persist in the policy of appeasement of the mullah regime, which has yielded no benefit whatever and is doing a grave injustice to the peace-loving people of Iran?

Lord Malloch-Brown: My Lords, the noble Lord is, I think, aware that the POAC judgment turned around particular aspects of the decision. We continue to believe that the PMOI was responsible for a number of serious military attacks over a very long period of time and that its disarming was entirely ragmatic—in the event of the coalition forces forcing it to disarm after the intervention in Iraq. We have seen no evidence that the organization has publicly renounced violence and terrorism. We have to be consistent in our views of terrorists. When we like the people whom terrorists attack, we call them “terrorists”; when it is the civilians5 Feb 2008 : Column 949of Iran who are attacked, we have a bad habit of thinking of them as liberation fighters. Terrorism and its tactics are objectionable irrespective of the target.

Lord Archer of Sandwell: My Lords, will my noble friend confirm that in addition to the ruling of the European Court of First Instance and the judgment of POAC, after careful considerationof all the evidence, some years ago the American authorities in Iraq conducteda careful investigation In to the allegation and concluded that it was totally without substance? Why do the Government cling so obstinately to a discredited allegation by adiscredited Iranian Government? Lord Malloch-Brown: My Lords, I cannot confirm to my noble and learned friend the circumstances of the US investigation that he refers to, but I certain lycan confirm that we will respect the outcome of the appeals process.

Lord Lloyd of Berwick: My Lords, can the noble Lord give us some further indication of what the grounds of appeal are?

Lord Malloch-Brown: My Lords, the judgment arrived at was that the behaviors of the organisation really amounted to a separation from the use of terrorist tactics. We just believe that there has not been a clear enough renunciation of those tactics. Instead, we see the decision as a pragmatic one in the face of American and British force. Until we are convinced that the organisation has really fore sworn those tactics, we continue to believe it to be a threat to civilians.

Lord Wallace of Saltaire: My Lords, can the Minister assure us that the Government are consistent in their definition of terrorists? We have a great variety of exiled groups in London—Tamils, Kurds, people from

the north and south Caucasus and so on. We host those groups, although a number of them support opposition groups in their own countries that are not always non-violent. Are the

Government confident that that they are consistent in their approach?

Lord Malloch-Brown: My Lords, the noble Lord raises a very important point. In the case of the Tamils, the LTTE is a proscribed organisation. It is quite difficult determining which groups in this country fall on which side of the line—and which support peaceful change in their countries and which support violent change and finance it. We look very carefully at that issue on a continuing basis

The Earl of Onslow: My Lords, is not the noble Lord getting in a terrible muddle? Frankly, we support edviolent revolution in Afghanistan when the Russians were there, Israel was set up by violent revolution, Ireland was set up by violent revolution and in South Africa we, to a certain

extent, encouraged violence by the ANC. We cannot say that all violence against tyrannical regimes is wrong. We also supported the French resistance and the Dutch resistance in the war;

5 Feb 2008 : Column 950

Montgomery objected to that because he said it reminded him of Palestinian and Irish terrorists. Surely the Government are still in a muddle and ought to start thinking straight.

Lord Malloch-Brown: My Lords, the noble Earl will understand that we have always objected, most recently in the case of Ireland, to unwarranted attack son civilian targets. There is a big difference between military campaigns that fall within the Geneva conventions and the rest of international law and abusive campaigns that target asymmetrically civilians. I hope we have a

consistent policy towards such groups.

Baroness Turner of Camden: My Lords, is my noble friend aware that the PMOI, which is led by a woman, Madam Rajavi, has an agenda for peaceful change via a political process, believes in a human rights agenda, including women’s rights, and its policies are the sort that we should support?

Lord Malloch-Brown: My Lords, I certainly concede the point that the organisation is led by a woman [Iran-Interlink editor – the PMOI is led by a man, Massoud Rajavi, who is the sole decision maker in the organisation, Maryam Rajavi is only his lieutenant.], but I will risk the wrath of a portion of this House when I say that despite that, and despite what it says about the rights of women, the PMOI was involved in numerous terrorist attacks for a very extended period. At the time of the second Gulf War, it was considered by coalition forces to be completely assimilated into the security apparatus of the Saddam Hussein regime. Indeed, we had to disarm the organisation to the extent of 2,100 tanks, vehicles and artillery pieces. Since then it has made no renunciation of terrorism

and disarmed only in the face of pressure from coalition forces; so, despite what it has to say on women’s rights, we are not convinced that in other regards this organisation has permanently renounced terrorism.

Lord Harries of Pentregarth: My Lords, it was encouraging to hear the Minister say that Her Majesty’s Government would accept the outcome of the appeals process. Can we accept that, as a clear implication of that, Her Majesty’s Government will accept that this organisation should no longer be a proscribed terrorist organisation?

Lord Malloch-Brown: My Lords, one must always fight terrorism in the context of the rule of law and respect for judicial decisions. One stoops to the standards of one’s terrorist opponents if one does otherwise. We will fully respect the decision of the appeals process.

February 4, 2008 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

Javad Firuzmand interviewed by Mehrdad Farahmand

Former MKO seeking refuge in western countries The military coalition under the US commandment in Iraq confirmed that some MKO members have left this organisation and their base in Iraq. Confirmation of this news takes place after some reports were published indicating that in the past few weeks the efforts of dozens of former MKO to escape Iraq and seek refuge in western countries have failed and many of them are left hanging around in Iraq where they are in a very desperate situation.

In the past four years since Iraq was occupied by the US forces and its allies, some MKO members gradually left this organization and Camp Ashraf which is their base in Iraq.

The US army which is guarding Camp Ashraf during this period, kept the dissidents under its own protection in a camp near to this base. As the press office of coalition forces under the US command has informed the BBC, during the last four years 380 individuals of MKO have returned to Iran at their own request. But those dissidents who did not wish to return to Iran despite the efforts made by the United States did not gain the confirmation of any country for their application for refuge.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that within the last few weeks, dozens of them decided to leave the camp they were living in which was protected by the US forces and try to leave Iraq through different ways but this effort was unsuccessful for most of them and they returned to the camp protected by the US forces. Some were arrested after crossing the Turkish border and returned to Iraq, a few managed to remain in Turkey or go to Greece illegally.

The Society for Defending Immigrants and Iranians in France (ARIA) tries to help the MKO dissidents to leave Iraq and settle in another country. According to this society 208 MKO dissidents were staying in the US camp up to last month. The press office of the US forces today gives their number at 110. Javad Firuzmand, the spokesman of ARIA society who himself has left the MKO says that this number had reduced to 50 last week and the number 110 indicates that some of those who had left there have returned to the US camp.

Mr Firuzmand told the BBC that 70 of the dissidents tried to go to Turkey after Javad Firuzmand;former member of MKO they left the Americas with the aid of some smugglers, but the Turkish border police arrested them and after one month in prison and remaining in compulsory camp were handed over to the Iraqi Police. One of these people was shot and wounded by the border police and is in hospital now in the city of Arbil, the capital of Iraqi Kurdistan. The spokesman of ARIA society says that the autonomous government of Iraqi Kurdistan is keeping the people who were handed over by the Turkish police in a temporary camp in Arbil. But some of these people tried again to cross the Turkish border. Ten of them were arrested again by the Turkish police and handed over to Iraqi police and they are now in prison in Arbil. Amongst those who managed to cross the border ten were able to reach Greece with the aid of smugglers and 15 are living covertly in Istanbul and Ankara and Van in Turkey.

According to Javad Firuzmand, the MKO dissidents who are staying in Turkey could not approach the Human Rights and Turkish organizations since if they are revealed they would be arrested and returned to Iraq. The ten who stay in Greece are also in covert situation in that country. The ARIA society spokesman added that about 15 individuals approached Jordan and there is no information about the destiny of other 8.

The BBC’s effort to contact the UNHCR to obtain information about the destiny of these MKO dissidents did not reach anywhere but enquiries are still ongoing. The ARIA society which is a human rights establishment defending Iranians has demanded help for these people and the chance to live legally in European or other free countries. During the last four years some MKO dissidents have returned to Iran – the press office of forces under US command in Iraq gives their number at 380. Javad Firuzmand, the spokesman of ARIA society says that these individuals are living and working in several Iranian cities and are freely active in the society and he himself is in contact with some of them. According to him, inside Camp Ashraf which is still run by the MKO, some 200 individuals have left the MKO too. These people are not willing to move to the American’s camp and they are kept in a separate place inside Ashraf. Mr Firuzmand says that these people also seek refuge from western countries.

Camp Ashraf was established in 1986 after MKO leader [Massoud Rajavi] moved from France to Iraq and the members of this organisation launched an armed struggle against Iran benefiting from the military facilities given by Saddam Hussein’s regime. They participated in military operations against Iran during the Iran Iraq war. This base is situated in the district of Khalis in the province of Dyala in the east of Iraq and the coalition forces under US command have given the total number of individuals living there as 3360. The United States designated the MKO as a terrorist organisation but according to international regulations and Geneva Convention, they are kept under the entity of "protected persons".

The Iranian government demands that Camp Ashraf be dismantled and all MKO members be expelled from Iraq and accuses the Americans of protecting them in order to use them against Iran. January 26, 2008

February 3, 2008 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

Symposium on Terrorism in Iraq

A round table discussion centred on the issue of terrorism in Iraq and possible solutions to this problem. The Symposium was divided in to 3 parts: – the general threat posed by terrorist groups and the ways they operate in Iraq – foreign terrorist organisations in Iraq – the creation of terrorist organisations in Iraq and the global supporters of these terrorist groups Participants of the Symposium ranged from university professors including, Dr. Aziz Jabar Shayal, Dr. Samir Alshweely and Dr. Rasheed Saleh, professors of Political Studies from the University of Baghdad. The Symposium was also attended by many governmental and non-governmental representatives from a wide range of ministries and NGOs, including representatives from Iraq’s Ministries of Defence, Human Rights and Security.

Symposium on Terrorism in Iraq - Khodabande

Massoud Khodabandeh from the Centre de recherches sur le terrorisme depuis le 11 septembre 2001 (Paris), who was in Baghdad for meetings concerning the fate of the remaining individuals following dismantlement of Camp Ashraf which houses the disarmed Iranian terrorist organisation Mojahedin Khalq Organisation, was invited to participate in the discussion.

Prominent among the participants was Mr. Bassam Alhassani, advisor to Prime Minister Noori Al Maleki.

Symposium on Terrorism in Iraq - Khodabande

The Symposium ended with a full report on the issues discussed and Dr. Aziz Jabar Shayal delivered the end resolution in which one paragraph emphasized the necessity for the dismantlement and deportation of the foreign terrorist Mojahedin Khalq organisation and encouragement and facilitation by the government and others to help the remaining individuals find a safe palace outside Iraq and return to normal life.

The symposium was covered by media representatives who reported from the meeting room.

Alaraghia television, Iraq’s main TV network, reported the Symposium and broadcast a brief interview with Massoud Khodabandeh.

In the interview, Massoud Khodabandeh emphasised above all the right of the Iraqi people to enjoy security and have justice served against the perpetrators of violent acts in their country, in particular the criminal heads of the terrorist Mojahedin-e Khalq organisation which was involved in the massacre of the Kurdish and Shiite uprisings against Saddam Hussein in March 1991. Mr Khodabandeh said that in his belief and according to all the studies of the Centre de Recherches sur le Terrorisme, the phenomenon of terrorism cannot have a single solution and needs inter governmental cooperation as well as the involvement of NGOs to protect the human rights of the who have been inveigled by terrorist leaders into this path, and to give them a second chance of integration back into their societies.

Thanking the organisers of the Symposium Mr Khodabandeh emphasised the cult culture of terrorist organisations and the methods they use to brainwash their followers. He also gave examples of foreign support by some influential groups and parties who facilitate the flow of finance for terrorism. Not the least the relationship between the remainders of Saddam Hussein in Iraq, London, Washington and other countries with the Mojahedin Khalq Organisation, and the way this relationship is becoming clear in the escalation of violence in Diyali province as well as the streets of London and other European countries.

The Symposium lasted for over two hours. Afterwards the participants formed smaller groups to further discuss the variety of issues raised by the Seminar.

A full report and media coverage will be published shortly. Thursday, 31st of January 2008.

Centre for International and Inter-governmental Studies of the University of Baghdad

February 3, 2008 0 comments

The cult of Rajavi

Autopsy of a paradoxical dealing with MKO

The paradoxical stance adopted by the US towards Mojahedin-e Khalq cultist organization has turned into a rather serious challenge mounting the already existing tension between the US and Iran. According to a number of political analysts, the dual stance might be the result of internal political disparities among the parties. But it has to be noted that regardless of all disparities, the parties reach a consensus when it comes to confront any alien element that imperils the country’s general interests. However, the prevalent political contradictions emerged mostly after the State Department first designated MKO as a terrorist organization in 1997, a status that the group continues to occupy ever since.

Despite MKO’s claim that its classification as a terrorist organization was at the behest of the Iranian government, the State Department’s latest report describing the group a cult of personality as well as a terrorist group indicates that the Americans have well realized the group’s threats. The internal disputes to deproscribe MKO in no way mean that some have come to be duped by group’s pro-democratic propagandas but rather it is regarded as an easy tool against Iranian regime. The speculation was even further underpinned when the group came to receive protection of the coalition forces in Iraq following Saddam’s fall. However, there are many undeniable factors, especially disclosed by the State Department’s report, that convince Americans never put any trust on the group. The features can be classified as:

– MKO’s Marxist ideology

– Group’s innate antagonism with capitalism and adoption of armed struggle to start a mass movement against capitalism

– Perpetration of terrorist operations against American military personnel and civilians inside Iran

– Playing a pivotal role to escalate the emerged US-Iran tension following the Islamic revolution

– supporting the takeover of the U.S. Embassy in Tehran in 1979

– MKO’s secrete ties with the USSR and the communist camp in general

– A zealous attachment to Machiavellianism

– Masterminding terrorist plots against American interests inside Iran

– Unannounced but implicit acknowledgment of al-Qaeda’s 9/11 terrorist operation

– Wearing a mask of pro-democracy as a tactic to assume political power

– maintaining the capacity and will to commit terrorist acts across the world

– close military and intelligence collaboration with Saddam’s regime Regardless of all lobbying attempts to get the group off the hook, MKO remained on the list. But the raised question is that how a designated organization happened to be the first terrorist organization to be granted ‘protected status’ by the US in its move to combat terrorism?

Hardly any of the designated terrorists groups on Americans’ list strive for getting close to the US to gain political legitimacy and most of them are recognized to be jeopardizing American interests here and there. In contrast, MKO hankers after convincing Americans that throughout its campaign, it has tried to accomplish a goal of establishing democracy on the US model. Interestingly, the group in an attempt to justify its claim distorted its past records of activities and adopted ideology. The best evidence is its published Democracy Betrayed wherein the group tries to prove absolute devotion to American favoured capitalism and liberalism.

But Americans are well aware of the fact that exactly in the same way that they manipulate the group, Machiavellian mannerism is theorized within MKO. That is why Americans, in spite of the heavy cost they sometimes have to pay, keep in touch with the group while is keen to it at a distance; that is exactly what America is doing in Iraq.

Soon after Americans settled in Iraq, more than a year after the invasion, they actually frustrated MKO’s liberation army by disarming it. In July 2004 all members of MKO in Iraq, including the leadership of the organisation based there, signed agreements which permitted them release from the control and protection of the Coalition forces in Iraq. In order to obtain that benefit, each individual had to sign a statement containing the following words:

…I agree to the following:

a. I reject participation in, or support for terrorism.

b. I have delivered all military equipment and weapons under my control or responsibility.

c. I reject violence and I will not unlawfully take up arms or engage in any hostile act. I will obey the laws of Iraq and relevant United Nations mandates while residing in this country.

Thus, renunciation of militarism was enforced on MKO against its will and its terrorist potentialities were curbed in Iraq. Furthermore, by setting up Temporary International Presence Facility (TIPF) in the vicinity of Camp Ashraf, dissatisfied members were granted opportunity to leave the group which debilitate the organization to a large extent. Beyond that, the State Department Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism in its last report released on April 30 for the first time brought up establishment of a cult of personality by its leader:

In addition to its terrorist credentials, the MEK has also displayed cult-like characteristics. Upon entry into the group, new members are indoctrinated in MEK ideology and revisionist Iranian history. Members are also required to undertake a vow of "eternal divorce" and participate in weekly "ideological cleansings." Additionally, children are reportedly separated from parents at a young age. MEK leader Maryam Rajavi has established a "cult of personality." She claims to emulate the Prophet Muhammad and is viewed by members as the "Iranian President in exile."

To sum up the Americans views, they indirectly argue:

– That MKO is a terrorist group that maintains unusually aberrant manners compared with other blacklisted organizations

– That its mannerism is rooted in its cult-like structure

– That MKO is a greater potential cult threat beyond its terrorist threat

– That the group is not only a global threat but also a closed cult enslaving its own members physically and mentally

– That the granted ‘protected status’ in Iraq is a measure to have it under control and to find an appropriate way of restoring the members’ mental health

– That instilled by the hope that it can win the US support, MKO can be prevented to commit mass-murder suicide like that of Jim Jones cult of the Peoples Temple

– That it is possible to have MKO under strict control through international conventions

– That the US’s paradoxical deal with MKO is the result of recognizing group’s dual terrorist-cult nature

– That MKO respect no political ethics in its campaign to assume the power

– That the gained experiences over destructive cults like Jim Jones and David Koresh is a warning to be more cautious and conservative to cope with MKO

– That ….

It can be continued with more reasons to see why the US has adopted a paradoxical but rational approach concerning MKO. Mojahedin.ws-February 2, 2008

February 3, 2008 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq Organization members' families

‘MKO! Let our children go!’

The families of several members of Mojahedin Khalq Organization on an Italian TV program call for their children to return.

The program, called ‘La Rubrica Politica Estera’, was aired by Italy’s state broadcaster RAI1 on Friday. At the beginning of the program a number of Iranian families were shown holding pictures of their deceived children, asking for them to be allowed to return to Iran.

Following those images, the commentator of the program explained that the MKO are communists who were supported by the former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and later fled to Europe and the United States.

The commentator continued that the Mojahedin separated many families by using persuasion techniques similar to those of Pol Pot, the former communist head of Cambodia. The program pointed out that many of the terrorist organization’s staff and senior members have told unsettling tales of insanity about the time they spent cooperating with the group.

According to RAI, MKO’s former financial head has revealed that members of the group live in absolute poverty and in the absence of their families, while the organization’s leader, Mas’oud Rajavi and his wife Maryam, live lavishly.

The program said that the group currently seeks to steer the dispute over Iran’s nuclear issue to more dismal corners by writing a letter to the US following the January 4 Strait of Hormuz naval incident.

MJ/JG/RA PRESS TV, Sat, 26 Jan 2008

January 29, 2008 0 comments

Iraq

NGO should facilitate safe MKO exit from Iraq

Iraqi Ministry of Human Rights: NGO should facilitate safe MKO exit from Iraq As concerted moves are getting underway in Iraq to deal with the foreign terrorist organisation Mojahedin-e Khalq in that country, Iran-Interlink was invited to attend a meeting at the Ministry of Human Rights in Iraq today. In a visit to Iraq this weekend, Massoud Khodabandeh from Iran-Interlink met with senior officials at the Ministry to talk about the future of the Iranian Mojahedin-e Khalq cult in that country.

During the three hour meeting, Massoud Khodabandeh expressed concern for the human rights situation of people involved in the Mojahedin cult. The American Forces in Iraq have been given notice to evacuate Camp Ashraf and its surrounds before the land is returned to its rightful owner by a court. This means that over 3,000 people must be urgently re-located. American Military Police have already begun to empty the Temporary International Presence Facility (TIPF) which had been established adjacent to Camp Ashraf to house individuals wishing to dissociate from the terrorist group. Around 800 former MKO members have been processed through TIPF. Over 500 have successfully accepted voluntary repatriation to Iran. Those who rejected this option were granted UN refugee status.

In December last year the American Military Police began to remove the remaining individuals from TIPF, driving them in small groups to nearby residential locations to make their own way. Mr Khodabandeh told the Iraqi Human Rights officials that although more difficult to achieve it would have been more effective to have removed the MKO members from Camp Ashraf first. This would allow anyone who wished to leave the cult to find a place of safety in TIPF and to seek refuge under US protection.

Mr Khodabandeh requested that the individuals involved in the evacuation of TIPF be provided immediate help. They must be afforded a safety net and not allowed to fall through the system to fend for themselves, he said. This would include around 100 people who remain at TIPF as well as those who have already left – some of these individuals are now in Iraqi prison, some in Turkish prisons and the remainder are fugitives whose whereabouts are unknown.

It was suggested that a NGO be established under the patronage of personalities and human rights charities in Europe and the Iraqi Human Rights Ministry. This would offer the US military appropriate help in dealing with the evacuation of TIPF and also Camp Ashraf within the framework of Iraqi law.

The officials at the Ministry of Human Rights gave a very clear answer saying that under no circumstances whatsoever would any member or former member of the Mojahedin-e Khalq Organisation be allowed to remain on Iraqi soil. They gave two main reasons for this decisive position. Firstly, that the MKO have been responsible for the murder of many Iraqi citizens. Respect for the rights and memories of the families of these victims make it impossible for the MKO to continue any presence in the country.

Secondly, and perhaps more urgently, the MKO remains directly attached to the Baath Party and former members of Saddam Husseinâ€™s regime. Should amnesty by given to any MKO and they escape, they would pose a danger to Iraq. They have been trained by Saddam Husseinâ€™s Republican Guards and maintain the potential to perform terrorist acts anywhere in Iraq.

To compound this decision, officials pointed out that the case of the Mojahedin has now been moved from the jurisdiction of the Government of Iraq to the Iraqi Judiciary which now has the task of making ruling judgements on the group and its members.

This is a highly significant step as it takes the MKO out of the political arena and places the future of the group in a legal framework. In this framework judgement has already been reached by several judges which has resulted in indictment papers and arrest warrants being issued against the three leading MKO members in Iraq, Abbas Davari, the MKOâ€™s political liaison official in Camp Ashraf, Mozhgan Parsaii, the Commander of Rajavi’s army in Iraq and Sediqeh Hoseini, the Secretary General of the MKO, in three separate courts including the Baghdad Criminal Court.

The Human Rights Ministry officials said Iraqâ€™s Government will demand the US hand over these individuals, stressing that US refusal to comply with Iraqi law will not reflect positively on the US presence in that country. This would not be a political decision but is based on the separate findings of three Iraqi judges. The Judiciary will send police to arrest the individuals concerned.

The meeting concluded with the Iraqi Human Rights Ministry again stressing that the Iraqi Government would under no circumstances have any direct contact with anyone from the MKO or even former members of the MKO in Iraq. All of these people must leave Iraq. However, Ministry officials conceded that they are willing to work with appropriate human rights organisations as well as Iran-Interlink and its representatives to provide temporary help and to facilitate the safe removal of these people.

The officials gave permission for an NGO to be established to offer humanitarian emergency aid to those who will be evacuated from the camps. The Ministry of Human Rights would work with the NGO to de-brief individuals from the MKO and to help reunite them with their families. Temporary places of refuge will be established to help these people. For any who request repatriation to Iran, the Ministry and the International Committee of the Red Cross would jointly guarantee that their human rights would not be violated. However, if third countries were sought, the NGO must find these itself.

January 27, 2008

January 29, 2008 0 comments

USA

Financing MEK, a cause of enmity between US-Iran

The Libertarian Party seems to know how to get its own message out to a politically sensitized electorate who are really fed up with Bush’s irrationality and seek for something better. Bush is said to deliver his annual State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress next week and Libertarian Steve Kubby delivered his own version directly to the American people via Internet video in advance.

In part of his speech that he referred to as offering “an assessment of our nation’s situation and answers to the question, Steve Kubby said he had a pretty good idea of what Bush was going to say and leave many things untold. In respect to Iran and financing terrorist groups like MKO he said:

President Bush is going to tell you that IRAN represents yet another military challenge to US power and that “all options remain on the table” for dealing with that threat. What he’s not going to tell you is that neither the International Atomic Energy Agency nor our government’s very own intelligence services agree with his claim that Iran is actively seeking to develop nuclear weapons. Nor is he going to tell you that enmity between Iran and the US is and always has been almost entirely a function of US intervention in the Middle East, including financing the bombing and murder campaigns of terror groups like the MEK within Iran’s borders.

President Bush will tell you none of these things, because telling you those things might lead you to ask yourself what the hell you were thinking when you consented to allow him, his party, and those who pretend to be his opponents in Congress, to exercise power over yourself, your family, your friends and your neighbors in the first place.

January 26, 2008

January 29, 2008 0 comments

Mujahedin Khalq Organization members' families

The Statement No.6 of Somayeh Mohammadi‘s Family

Bagdad – Jan22nd 2008

Dear Iranian, honorable patriots,

Human Rights and political forces, activists and organization,

On Dec18th, a day after the armed kidnapping of me, Mostafa Mohammadi (father) and my wife Mahboube Mohammadi (mother) by MKO’s team who had hired and bribed two Iraqi policemen, they showed a TV interview with our somayeh. The interview has previously been shown on August 20th , 2006. Fortunately, the kidnapping operation ended with MKO’s failure since the Iraqi authorities and American forces helped us.

Now we have no way unless using our least power and possibility in order to rescue our beloved Somayeh from Ashraf where the Mujahedin have sold freedom and humanity to the foreigners. This time we could receive the visa to enter Iraqi territory contrary to two years ago when we stayed in Jordan for two months and we couldn’t get the visa. Therefore, we accepted the risk of living in Iraq and that’s what any family does to save his child’s life.

What did we want Mujahedin to do?

As we have already stated in our previous statement dated on August 27th, 2006 we had only one request and that was to transfer Somaye to a free country so that she (who was taken to Ashraf when she was under the legal age and she’s gown up since years) could decide whether to stay or return to her family in Canada, in a free atmosphere, not the choking atmosphere ruling MKO.

How you can believe Somayeh’s words while her only source of news is the leader of the organization where there is no free TV or radio and she is under the psychological peer pressure.

She accused us as being the mercenaries of Regime, however her brother Mohammad who was taken to Ashraf as a 15-year old teenager ( and was kept there for 5 years working in their military camp) could visit his sister only once a year on New year’s day when both of them whispered their determination to leave MKO. They didn’t dare to declare their decision in the meetings due to despises and humiliations made against Mohammad has so many times noted in his weblog

www.toeme.blogfa.com

We hadn’t travelled to Iraq 8 times after the fall of Saddam, if the American forces hadn’t helped us, if Mohammad wasn’t a Canadian citizen, Mojahedin would have prevented him from leaving Ashraf and he wouldn’t have had a better fate than that of his sister. We wanted the return of our children – Somayeh a 17 year old girl and Mohamamd a 15 year old boy- who had taken to Iraq for a short trip. Is it a crime?

Before the issue of our first statement on August 27th, 2006, we tried to contact all supporters or members of MKO whether by phone or by person some offered their sympathy but didn’t dare to accompany with us. Some told us to keep quiet since the regime would abuse the situation. Some of them closed the doors to us after so many years of friendship. We asked, requested, and insisted them to ask MEK to return our Somayeh to us in a friendly way.

We didn’t like to be on top of the news like any other family. Our children didn’t like to be represented in mass Medias. The only people who like to be on the top of news on the antennas are those who have political objectives struggling for power or those who have a complex to get themselves known. None of the leaders of MKO listened to us. The only message we received was the snicker that “they can’t do anything”. We are nothing but we are parents who are worried about the future of our children.

Some of our close relatives who are MKO’s members persuaded Mohammad to run away because his father (me) is “the regime’s agent” instead of trying to solve our problem in a friendly way via talks. why didn’t they call me” the regime’s agent” when I raised money with Somayeh in the cold or hot weather in the streets? When we weren’t the agent of regime but their honor!?

How do you claim to struggle for democracy while you don’t hear the words of one of your own activists?

To which freedom or democracy movement your action adopts? We’ve learned in Canada that the first step towards democracy is to listen to each and every person’s words.

If the representative of MEK had visited us during the years from 2003 to 2007, would any thing have happened to MKO‘s credit? Or it would increase their credit due to their tolerance for listening to others. We haven’t found Somayeh in the streets and we can’t keep quiet for ever. But we have already stated that any political responsibility and exploitation of IRI is in MKO’s charge because they refused any possibility to talk. They prevented us from visiting our daughter freely. We have also stated that we don’t see any obstacle in order to publish MKO’s documents since it was a way MKO chose but they didn’t win and paternal emotions changed everything.

What Did Mujahedin do with us?

We have lived in Canada for years. We got refugee there in the fear of Islamic Republic .we have been more active than any other MKO supporter, there.

They brought Somayeh to their TV on August 20th, 2006 to accuse us of being regime’s mercenary. What a nice and great lesson to consolidate familial emotions.

They brought her to their TV again on Dec.8th 2007 and called her as a Mujahed so that she insulted us because we had prevented her from struggling against IRI.

You attacked us once in Ashraf in 2004 in front of my son’s eyes. You hit me so I had to go to Americans and ask them to help me to release my son and be their guest as a Canadian citizen.

Why did you attackus on Dec7,2007 and try to kidnap us?

Why do you want to dissuade us from looking for our child with labeling

us as mercenaries?

You boycotted our family after Mohammad returned home in 2004. Then you started your insults and propaganda against us in your various websites and TV channels and never let us to respond and clarify everything for the audience.

You forced three members of our family who are also your victims to publish statements against us.

You reported to Canadian security organization and police about us.

You threatened Mohamamd that if he says anything you will kill him. But your deciet had no function because Mohammad has begun speaking out.

Is it freedom loving to bring out large propaganda against a labor family? Is threatening my family along with your struggle to liberate Iranian people?

Why do you panic talking?

Which struggle are you talking about?

You haven’t had any news of your main leader Masud Rajavi since four years ago!

You haven’t fired even one gun for four years.

You only shot your hatred against your opponents with insults! Mohammad says:”Masud has always told in the meetings that if the US invaded Iraq we would defend ourselves.” Well did you defend? You just left our children alone and ran away.

Mohammad says:” when the American forces were close to us, the low ranking members started to shoot them but the commandants shouted:” don’t shoot. ‘’ And now you haven’t shot for four years.

We are not politicians and we don’t have the science either but is the absence of the leader of a political and military organization after the American invasion, normal? The taking of Reza Shah and Mohammad Reza Shah was an example of such a way.

In Iraq where Saddam Hussein’s sons are found and killed in exchange for 15 million dollars and the whole Baath authorities and Saddam‘s assistants are imprisoned or executed, do you need any political science to know that it is not normal that Masud Rajavi is living in his anti-bomb palace in Jalula using his dirty political deals of which our people have always been the victims. ?

Saddam’s power in the political transactions and his benefit in the region were finished. Now how Mostafa and Mahboube Mohammadi and their three children who do construction works to survive without begging dastard, can make a scratch in MEK who view themselves as the biggest Iranian Opposition? Mohammadi family doesn’t have any money to support Canadian politicians to gain their support what Mujahedin did to get the Iraqi visa to take our Somayeh to Iraq and didn’t wait for two months.

For God’s sake tell these people who are proud of their links with Western and American MPs, ”how can Mohammadi Family cause a problem in the regional relation where US, Britain, Saud Arabia, Iran, Jordan and Turkey are involved?

Are Mujahedin telling a lie or is Mohammadi a Superman?

The replacements of prime ministers during Shah’s era which were supported by American and British forces couldn’t prevent the revolution and the release of Mujahedin by people from the prisons.

Masud and Maryam Rajavi,

The problem is not Mostafa Mohammadi or Somayeh but you are the problem because you are selfish and enjoy the bloodshed of thousands of people in order to achieve the power. The problem is Masud Rajavi who doesn’t relinquish any deal to gain the government.

The problem is the ruling system of MKO that has got the control of thoughts of the members.

It is not possible for MKO to continue their financial activities to raise money without showing the manipulated people of Ashraf.

Right or Wrong.

The story of Somayeh is that of right and wrong. The story of the legality of family against those who don’t worth family.

Those who collapse a family under an order and think that the only condition for victory is linking the leadership. Such families spend their day and night with the hope of a miraculous order of leader and victory. But the leader has escaped from the scene. He supposed the supporters as stupids who never ask where he is because the regime would exploit the case.

When there is the case of MKO they let themselves ask any state for help but when the case is a family you should fight against IRI.

MKO’s victory and fall of IRI has no benefit for us except to express our happiness for our expatriates who have been far from us for years.

Our children have been captured in MKO’s evil hands for years. They don’t have any freedom. They are in Ashraf prison. You kept all the talks closed. So you have no way except liberating Somaye , then you can ask us to fight for you.

The organization whose survival depends on Somayeh’s stay shows its discredit and mercenary system.

If the roots of the tree are deep in the soil, it isn’t scared of any wind or storm since after the winter, the spring comes and the blossoms will flourish.

The people will win the Mujahedin. The right always wins the wrong.

Mohammadi Family

Baqdad – Ashura – 2008

January 28, 2008 0 comments

Former members of the MEK

A letter from Dr. Torabi on behalf of 8 UNHCR refugees

Dear Mr. Speaker,

I’m writing to you on behalf of the following 8 UNHCR recognized refugees who have been forced by Turkish Security and Political Police under gun fire to leave Turkey and cross the border back into Iraq :

Abdollahi, Ali

Adel, Hassan

Azari, Nasrollah

Eslamizadeh, Karam

Ghorbanzadeh, Ramezan

Mohebbi, Hamid

Nemati, Hassan

Zolfaghaari, Kamran

These 8 people aged 30-50 are from a larger group of 200 Iranian nationals and former members of Mojaheddin Khalkh Organization (MKO), an opposition group fighting against the Islamic Republic of Iran. Following Saddam’s downfall, these people seized the opportunity to leave MKO and take refuge in an American-run camp called Temporary International Presence Facility (TIPF) to await their destiny (i.e., being sent to European countries as refugees). They are all UN recognized refugees, each carrying three identification documents: an Iraqi Government’s issued “Lesser Passer” card, a UNHCR Refugee ID, and a Coalition Forces’ issued ID.

About 4 weeks ago, American Forces in TIPF began freeing these people from the camp in groups of 4 to 8 people and providing secure passage to various cities in Kordestan , Iraq , e.g., Moussell, Erbil . Avoiding arrest by Kurdish police and extradition to Iran , many of them began heading north to Turkey . Upon entering Turkey at the Iraq-Turkey border line, they were all arrested by the Turkish Security Police (in charge of foreigners) and moved to various prisons inside Turkey .

These 8 people, after two weeks in prison, were told to get ready to be moved to the city of Shirnak ( Center of Silopi Region ) for processing their request (to be formally recognized as UN refugees and allowed to contact UNHCR representatives in Turkey for resettlement in a safe 3rd country.) Instead, they were taken to the Turkey-Iraqi border post at Haboor on the Turkey side (called Ebrahim Araghi on the Iraq side) in order to send them back to Iraq. Iraqi officials at the border-crossing refused to allow them entry to Iraq . Turkish Security Police then decided to force these people back into Iraq by taking them to a nearby unmanned border point with a river marking the border line between the two countries. There, the Turkish soldiers stripped these 8 people of their money and valuable personal belongings and under the command of Turkish Security Police forced them (by firing warning shots) to cross the river into Iraq. These 8 people, are now in a border city called Zakhoo in Iraq and in eminent danger of being arrested by the Iraqi police and extradited to Iran .

By writing this letter, I would like to report to you this unprecedented level of violation of human rights as well as the negligence of basic rights of UNHCR recognized refugees by your border and security police and to appeal to you for your help to intervene on behalf of these 8 and close to 200 other former MKO members who are kept in Prisons in Turkey. Please act from the position of authority and responsibility and use whatever means available to you to ensure that the Turkish Government respect the minimum rights of these people as UNHCR refugees and allow them to contact UNHCR representatives in Turkey for a safe passage to and resettlement in a country within European Union.

Yours Truly

M. Torabi

Mohammad Torabi, Ph.D

CTO Architecture & Solutions Engineering

Alcatel-Lucent

Monarch Beach, California

USA 92629

Aria Iran, January 24, 2008-http://www.ariairan.com/?mod=view&id=3020

January 28, 2008 0 comments

The cult of Rajavi

The end of modern slavery

Verdict: to arrest three leading officials of the MKO on kidnapping and hostage taking charges

The efforts made by Mostafa Mohammadi and his wife Mahbubeh with the support of their children Mohammad, Morteza, and Hurieh who are in Canada for three months have paid off. Accepting every risk in Iraq and with the support of human rights activists and the people of Iraq and some of the former members and the families of the Mojahedin Khalq Organisation (MKO) members the Mohammadis brought their case before an Iraqi court. They charged that they had been beaten and an attempt at kidnap was made by members of the MKO on 7 December 2007. They also protested to the court against the captivity of their daughter Somayeh who was taken to Camp Ashraf in Iraq in 1998 when she was 17 and charged that their son Mohammad Mohammadi was detained illegally by the MKO for five years from 1999 when he was only 15 years old.

The Mohammadi family approached human rights organizations and an Iraqi attorney alolng with UN officials in Iraq and some Iraqi government ministers. The fruit of their efforts was that the judge of the Baghdad Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant against Abbas Davari, the political liaison of MKO in Camp Ashraf, Mozhgan Parsaii, the Commander of Rajavi’s army in Iraq and Sediqeh Hoseini, the Secretary General of the MKO on the charges of kidnapping and taking hostages. The judge also ordered that Somayeh must be taken away from Camp Ashraf and the MKO must pay compensation to the Mohammadi family.

This is the first official verdict against the MKO by the Iraqi Judicial system and has been issued by one of the highest and most influential courts in Baghdad.

Regarding the verdict given by the court, the Mohammadi family is continuing their campaign to finally release their captive daughter from the hands of the destructive, terrorist MKO cult. They hope that they can start a move to end the modern slavery of the Rajavi Cult. Many individuals were taken to Iraq by Rajavi when they were underage and forced to work hard and as a result many of them suffer from various mental and physical disorders.

The Mohammdi family believe that this first victory which they worked so hard to achieve belongs to all the suffering families of MKO members held mentally and physically captive in Camp Ashraf in Iraq. The leaders of the MKO must be taken to court for brainwashing their members and isolating them from the outside world and banning them from contacting their families.

Mohammadi Family, 23 January 2008

January 28, 2008 0 comments

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